About Bach’s Siciliano
Often used in the slow movement of instrumental music, the Siciliano is a charming dance. It is also known that Vivaldi often uses it in the second movement of his concertos. I am not the only one who feels that Bach has a particularly large number of masterpieces of this dance piece. Siciliano tends to be used less in keyboard suites and more in the pieces with melodic instrument with basso continuo.
The most famous example of Bach’s siciliano is the second movement of the Sonata in E-flat major for harpsichord and flute. However, it was recently concluded that this piece was not written by Bach, but by Carl Philipp Emanuel. In any case, it remains a charming siciliano (Fig. 1). Similarly, the first movement Siciliano of the Sonata in C minor for harpsichord and violin is also impressive for its melancholy melody (Fig. 2).
The best of Bach’s Siciliano compositions is, by far, the following one. It is the pathetic aria “Erbarme Dich” from the Matthew Passion (Fig. 3). It is a truly miraculous aria that painfully expresses Peter’s regret over his “small betrayal” of Jesus. The aria “Geist Und Seele Wird Verwirret” from Cantata No. 35 is another heart-wrenching siciliano (Fig. 4).
The third movement of the Sonata in E major for flute and bass (Fig. 5) and the third movement of the Sonata in G minor for unaccompanied violin are gentle siciliano dances that warm and comfort the heart (Fig. 6). The remaining three pieces are from the second movements of the concertos: the second movement of the Concerto in C major for two harpsichords (fig. 7), the second movement of the Concerto in D minor for two violins (fig. 
, and the second movement of the Concerto in C minor for two harpsichords (fig. 9). The Siciliano seems to have been a special means of expression for Bach. Let me conclude with a Siciliano that I myself made about 50 years ago.
, and the second movement of the Concerto in C minor for two harpsichords (fig. 9). The Siciliano seems to have been a special means of expression for Bach. Let me conclude with a Siciliano that I myself made about 50 years ago.
